Amid match fixing allegations and investigations, CBI cleared 3 men off their radar saying that they were not at all involved in it - Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly. Indian cricket still had a lot to look forward to. Enthusiasm was at an all time low and a lot of pessimism among the Indian cricket fans. Little did we all know that this would be a perfect setting for the men in blue to start a new age golden era with newer attitude and grit. Oh Captain!! My Captain!! The Prince of Calcutta along with John Wright brought about a remarkable change in Indian cricket.
But before all this, lets speak about Saurav the player. First picked in 1992 and thrown back out of the team, this guy had the guts to tell his dad that he will be the Captain of Indian cricket team. Then after 4 years, he was selected. On this news Bishen Singh Bedi (legendary Indian spinner) quotes "Sourav Ganguly is a proven failure" while Tiger Pataudi (great Indian Cricket Captain) quotes "His selection proves quota system is still prevelant". And Saurav's response was nothing but just a century in each of his 1st 3 Test matches wow... and then there was no turning back. All his career, he has been bestowed with the unenviable role of proving his critics wrong and there was no shortage for that. He has always been a few shots away from greatness and his weaknesses is something that is known by every other bowler now. But I choose not ever to speak about his innings or stats here because his contributions are more than that. He is an inspiration for the human in me, in all of us.
Sourav the captain, knew what he wanted, trusted his gut feelings and trusted his teammates. It is only because ; of his stubborness that Harbhajan Singh was picked ahead of Sarandeep Singh for the 2001 Series against Australia ; he spotted Mahendra Singh Dhoni and wanted him to be included in the side; Yuvraj Singh has been able to hold on to his spot in the team inspite of inconsistent performance. But maybe more that this, his contribution to Indian Cricket was the shift in attitude and self-belief. He was a fearless captain and very instinctive and the team reflected that. Under him, the adjective Team India was coined. Under him, Team India would not shy away from any verbal confrontation and would take the other teams in their home turfs. This started getting reflected in the Away wins we started to have. Under him, youngsters got a lot of chances (although Aakash Chopra might not agree to that). To quote from article I read after his dishonourable exclusion from the side, "Maybe the powers that are will determine that this man will never play agin for India but the the current youngsters like Yuvrajs, Pathans, MSD, who are playing for Team India and the ones after them need to remember that there is 1 man to thank for who paved the way for them".
Well to say the least, Saurav was so human like all us. So imperfect and yet too stubborn, So self-confident almost on the verge of looking arrogant (and arrogant too he might be) and many a times so full of himself and yes, so unpredictable. It was this quality along with him deliberately assuming an aggressive body language at times but also, always wearing his heart on his sleeve that endeared him to us. With Sachin it was always awe, with Rahul it was always respect, with Saurav we felt too connected to love him or loathe him or hate him. We have all secretly admired him as he showed us that for all our imperfections and with all our imperfections, we still can take on the world. For that and only for that, you will always be my favourite criketer ever.
I hope I am keeping aside the topic of cricket for some time on this blog until such time arises that the game inspires and invites me to write again.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
An Ode to the Big Three - Sachin Tendulkar
What more can I say that has not been already said about this man:- a child prodigy, a genius, master blaster, the master, etc.. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has almost become a synonym for Indian cricket, but as he himself would agree no one is greater than the game. He is revered to as God by his hardcore fans, but time and again he has proved that he is not. For him suits the phrase "born genius", "born to play cricket". There is no question of what Sachin Tendular would be if he is not a cricketer... there never was a question like this in his mind and of course, in his journey of life. I am too small to speak about his shots and technique, so I will leave them at that. He has been a ray of hope for millions for the 20 years he has played cricket (and still going strong). Has tried to stray away from controversies, but has at times surprised with sudden and instinctive expression of passion like coming down the wicket to Glenn McGrath in Nairobi in Champions trophy and giving him an earful, then supporting Sourav Ganguly in his meeting with Sharad Pawar (resulting in a historic comeback by the southpaw) and his tremendous support to Harbhajan Singh during the infamous Monkeygate episode. He will always have a few small question marks, although for me it is only his 4th Innings performance in a Test match... I did not observe the consistency that would be expected from the world's greatest batsman ever (move over Don Bradman although I give it to you for playing without a helmet and on uncovered pitches but we will never know how you would adapt to conditions in different countries and different bowlers like Sachin has over his career). There are so many great innings he has played, but if there is any I have to pick up as his greatest, it will be the one after the Sandstorm in Sharjah, period.
To speak about Sachin, the player... his greatness lies in his utmost dedication and love to the game of cricket. We can see it from the way he approaches his batting, bowling and fielding. A man with undoubtable integrity (a walker except for a couple of times I can remember). When he goes out to bat, you can see.... there is no arrogance or under-estimation as he knows that all it needs is a very good delivery to get out. It does not matter who the bowler is, it just a matter of 1 ball. Hence, you will never see him disrepecting anyone on the field. But again, it does not mean he does not mark a bowler as such. Ask Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe). Henry Olonga got Sachin out of a short delivery in Sharjah, which was just a customary last match of the round-robind round as Zim and Ind were already in finals. Rumour has it that Ajay Jadeja even mocked Sachin for the way he got out an Sachin's reply was "Just wait till the next match". Sachin was certainly awaiting. Zimbabwe batted first and scored 196 runs. All eyes were on Henry Olonga as everyone were keen to see if he can repeat the last match's magic again. But that was it. Henry Olonga had no idea what hit him as Sachin went full guns blazing. I still remember how furious Sachin was when Saurav refused to take the second run once during the innings and the way he glared at Saurav and Saurav was just trying to pacify him from the strikers end (with hand gestures a small smile on his face). Saching went on to hit a century (more than run a ball innings) and India won the match and yes, Henry Olonga was never the same afterwards. Everyone remembers his Sandstorm innings, Ravi Shastri yelling out "He does not only want to qualify the innings, he wants to win the match", Tony Greig yelling out "The little fellow has hit the tall fellow for a six" and then after cracking a match winning century in the Finals, Steve Waugh (Australian Captain) stating in a press conference "We were not defeated by a better team, but by a better player".
For Sachin, cricket was everything. The nets was his laboratory. He would practise playing a leg spinner bowling around the wickets before the Australian tour of India of 1998 in preparation to facing Shane Warne. The first ball that Shane bowled around the wicket was hit back over his head for a Six and that set about the duel. Shane would never get the better of Sachin. The field was where Sachin would execute his practise and knowledge. The lofted late cut off Shoaib Akhtat laid down the momentum for him makin 93 runs and India winning the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan which he himself has admitted that he had been playing that innings for a year (as the draws were out and India knew when they will face Pak).
Just as that, Sachin the man... Something that all the brash and over-confident younsters of the current team needs to follow. Sachin has never pulled any star tantrums, been very dignified and respectful in the public and always respected the opponents on the field. Not for him any shenanigans or terms like sledging (which does not have a place in the field). It was always his game that showed how aggressive and competitive he was. Just as in the cricket field he has been able to uphold his middle-class values in his public life. No scandals, no link-ups, no party animal ; Just his game, his family and his very secretive charity work. Love the man you are Sachin, hope the current crop and the future crop learn humility from you (sadly I dont see in them at all though except for Dhoni).
To sum it up, one of my friends had put this in his status after Sachin became the 1st Batsman to hit an ODI double century in Mens format (remember it was a lady cricketer from Australia who hit the 1st ODI double century ever helping her team to score the first ever 400+ runs in an ODI innings) - People would have missed their breakfast, been late to the office, missed the bus, forgot something... But we all would have gone to bed with a smile, as Sachin hit this double century... that is what he means to almost all of us.
To speak about Sachin, the player... his greatness lies in his utmost dedication and love to the game of cricket. We can see it from the way he approaches his batting, bowling and fielding. A man with undoubtable integrity (a walker except for a couple of times I can remember). When he goes out to bat, you can see.... there is no arrogance or under-estimation as he knows that all it needs is a very good delivery to get out. It does not matter who the bowler is, it just a matter of 1 ball. Hence, you will never see him disrepecting anyone on the field. But again, it does not mean he does not mark a bowler as such. Ask Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe). Henry Olonga got Sachin out of a short delivery in Sharjah, which was just a customary last match of the round-robind round as Zim and Ind were already in finals. Rumour has it that Ajay Jadeja even mocked Sachin for the way he got out an Sachin's reply was "Just wait till the next match". Sachin was certainly awaiting. Zimbabwe batted first and scored 196 runs. All eyes were on Henry Olonga as everyone were keen to see if he can repeat the last match's magic again. But that was it. Henry Olonga had no idea what hit him as Sachin went full guns blazing. I still remember how furious Sachin was when Saurav refused to take the second run once during the innings and the way he glared at Saurav and Saurav was just trying to pacify him from the strikers end (with hand gestures a small smile on his face). Saching went on to hit a century (more than run a ball innings) and India won the match and yes, Henry Olonga was never the same afterwards. Everyone remembers his Sandstorm innings, Ravi Shastri yelling out "He does not only want to qualify the innings, he wants to win the match", Tony Greig yelling out "The little fellow has hit the tall fellow for a six" and then after cracking a match winning century in the Finals, Steve Waugh (Australian Captain) stating in a press conference "We were not defeated by a better team, but by a better player".
For Sachin, cricket was everything. The nets was his laboratory. He would practise playing a leg spinner bowling around the wickets before the Australian tour of India of 1998 in preparation to facing Shane Warne. The first ball that Shane bowled around the wicket was hit back over his head for a Six and that set about the duel. Shane would never get the better of Sachin. The field was where Sachin would execute his practise and knowledge. The lofted late cut off Shoaib Akhtat laid down the momentum for him makin 93 runs and India winning the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan which he himself has admitted that he had been playing that innings for a year (as the draws were out and India knew when they will face Pak).
Just as that, Sachin the man... Something that all the brash and over-confident younsters of the current team needs to follow. Sachin has never pulled any star tantrums, been very dignified and respectful in the public and always respected the opponents on the field. Not for him any shenanigans or terms like sledging (which does not have a place in the field). It was always his game that showed how aggressive and competitive he was. Just as in the cricket field he has been able to uphold his middle-class values in his public life. No scandals, no link-ups, no party animal ; Just his game, his family and his very secretive charity work. Love the man you are Sachin, hope the current crop and the future crop learn humility from you (sadly I dont see in them at all though except for Dhoni).
To sum it up, one of my friends had put this in his status after Sachin became the 1st Batsman to hit an ODI double century in Mens format (remember it was a lady cricketer from Australia who hit the 1st ODI double century ever helping her team to score the first ever 400+ runs in an ODI innings) - People would have missed their breakfast, been late to the office, missed the bus, forgot something... But we all would have gone to bed with a smile, as Sachin hit this double century... that is what he means to almost all of us.
An Ode to the Big Three - Rahul Dravid
It's the IPL season so, I thought let's write something on Cricket... And if so, then what else but the Big 3 of Indian Cricket...
He is the WALL. Rahul Dravid, who was overshadowed for the most part of his cricketing career by the other 2 has now carved a niche for himself as one of the greatest Test Batsman in the world ever. He is easily the 3rd Best No.3 batsman ever in the world. Watching Rahul Dravid bat is like watching a farmer toiling in the field, or an ironsmith hitting away one by one on the hot iron, shaping it slowely (but strongly). He is a purists delight. I have a certain old school in me and if there ever was a reason for me to appreciate why a good ball needs to be respected, it is him batting. You see the man batting, and you can see that he is a perfectionist. For the first few deliveries/minutes, he will be practising a defensive stroke at the non-strikers end. Not for him the early flurry of runs or nervous zeroes. His aim is to first survive and that too in a very correct way, after which he knows that runs will flow. He knows his strengths are his concentration and much perfected technique. How I wish he releases a book on his training/practise: that will be an institution for all the Rohit Sharmas, Uthhapas, Kohlis etc. He is and has always been 1 man at whom India has looked upon in a crisis. It does not matter if it was in New Zealand with him hitting back to back centuries or playing an important fighting innings along side Laxman @ Kotla (the greatest test match ever of the greatest test serries ever), helping in winning 1st Test Match in Australia and so many other instances. When it comes to Test Matches, it is only Dravid we have always had. Around him as the constant, the Sachins, Souravs and Laxmans have played more attractive innings and as always for the cricket illiterates of India, Dravid was always under appreciated. It all started with his first match itself where a certain Sourav Ganguly knocked up a fine century and Dravid missed it with a mere 4 runs... and that has been his tale. But for the purists in us, the old school people among us who know that the game of cricket is not just slam bang and sixers, but is more of the finer points... like achieving perfection, constructing an innings, respecting good balls, playing a cultured shot (it is not baseball to just swirl your bat, make contact and hope that the ball powers through for a home run) and that batting can be a laboured art, you are the epitome of batsmanship. Kudos to Dravid to having bailed out India numerous times, for being the unsung hero so often and personally, for giving us a glimpse of a forgotten era of batsmanship (which looks like it will soon get extinct)... If I ever have a son who wants to be a batsman, I would like him to play like you... a mere Mortal who achieved immortal heights through sweat, toil and persistence.
He is the WALL. Rahul Dravid, who was overshadowed for the most part of his cricketing career by the other 2 has now carved a niche for himself as one of the greatest Test Batsman in the world ever. He is easily the 3rd Best No.3 batsman ever in the world. Watching Rahul Dravid bat is like watching a farmer toiling in the field, or an ironsmith hitting away one by one on the hot iron, shaping it slowely (but strongly). He is a purists delight. I have a certain old school in me and if there ever was a reason for me to appreciate why a good ball needs to be respected, it is him batting. You see the man batting, and you can see that he is a perfectionist. For the first few deliveries/minutes, he will be practising a defensive stroke at the non-strikers end. Not for him the early flurry of runs or nervous zeroes. His aim is to first survive and that too in a very correct way, after which he knows that runs will flow. He knows his strengths are his concentration and much perfected technique. How I wish he releases a book on his training/practise: that will be an institution for all the Rohit Sharmas, Uthhapas, Kohlis etc. He is and has always been 1 man at whom India has looked upon in a crisis. It does not matter if it was in New Zealand with him hitting back to back centuries or playing an important fighting innings along side Laxman @ Kotla (the greatest test match ever of the greatest test serries ever), helping in winning 1st Test Match in Australia and so many other instances. When it comes to Test Matches, it is only Dravid we have always had. Around him as the constant, the Sachins, Souravs and Laxmans have played more attractive innings and as always for the cricket illiterates of India, Dravid was always under appreciated. It all started with his first match itself where a certain Sourav Ganguly knocked up a fine century and Dravid missed it with a mere 4 runs... and that has been his tale. But for the purists in us, the old school people among us who know that the game of cricket is not just slam bang and sixers, but is more of the finer points... like achieving perfection, constructing an innings, respecting good balls, playing a cultured shot (it is not baseball to just swirl your bat, make contact and hope that the ball powers through for a home run) and that batting can be a laboured art, you are the epitome of batsmanship. Kudos to Dravid to having bailed out India numerous times, for being the unsung hero so often and personally, for giving us a glimpse of a forgotten era of batsmanship (which looks like it will soon get extinct)... If I ever have a son who wants to be a batsman, I would like him to play like you... a mere Mortal who achieved immortal heights through sweat, toil and persistence.
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